James
River Coal Company was formed in 1988 through
the purchase of General Energy Corporation. McCoy Elkhorn
and Bell County were the original operating companies.
In 1992 we acquired the operations of Johns Creek Coal
Company which added 33,000,000 in coal reserves and
the Bevins Branch Preparation Plant, both of which are
now operated under McCoy Elkhorn. In June of 1995 the
Leeco and Bledsoe operating companies were acquired
through Transco Coal Company. The Blue Diamond operating
company was purchased in 1998. In 1999, we acquired
Shamrock Coal Company, which added mines, reserves,
and a preparation plant and the Clover loadout facility
to the Bledsoe complex. Triad was purchased in May of 2005. In April 2011 we acquired International Resource Partners (IRP). IRP adds high quality metallurgical and steam coal production and reserves to our portfolio. Logan and Kanawha, IRP’s global marketing group, provides an immediate footprint into the global seaborne steam and metallurgical coal markets.